Primula vulgaris ‘KERBELGOLDIE’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Primula vulgaris  cultivar named ‘KERBELGOLDIE’ is disclosed, characterized by deep golden-yellow, large double flowers, with enlarged sepals, strong peduncles, and early flowering. Plants have shown the ability to be propagated by tissue culture at a good rate. The new variety is a  Primula vulgaris , suitable for outdoor landscape and container use.

Latin name of the genus and species: Primula vulgaris.

Variety denomination: ‘KERBELGOLDIE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is the product of a planned breeding program under thedirection of the inventors, David Kerley, Priscilla Kerley, SarahKerley, and Timothy Kerley, all citizens of the United Kingdom. Theobjective of the breeding program was to produce new, compact pot-typePrimula vulgaris cultivars with abundant double flowers for commercialornamental purposes. The new cultivar resulted from crossing of the seedparent, the unpatented, proprietary variety Primula vulgaris ‘10-462-1’,and the pollen parent, the unpatented, proprietary variety Primulavulgaris ‘10-462-9’. The selection of the new variety ‘Kerbelgoldie’ wasmade in February 2011, by the inventors at a research greenhouse locatedin Cambridge, UK.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘KERBELGOLDIE’ by division wasfirst performed at the same research greenhouse in Cambridge, UK duringSeptember of 2011, by division and tissue culture. Both methods haveshown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘KERBELGOLDIE’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘KERBELGOLDIE’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘KERBELGOLDIE’ as a new and distinct Primulacultivar:

-   -   1. Golden yellow flowers (no other double Primula vulgaris with        this color to the best of our knowledge).    -   2. Early flowering.    -   3. Enlarged sepals behind the flower.    -   4. Double flowers.    -   5. Large flowers.    -   6. Strong peduncles.    -   7. Good propagation rate in tissue culture.    -   8. Very fragrant.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘KERBELGOLDIE’ are similar to plants of theseed parent, proprietary seedling ‘10-462-1’, in most horticulturalcharacteristics. However, plants of the new cultivar differ in thefollowing ways:

-   -   1. New cultivar has double flowers; seed parent is single        flowered.    -   2. New variety is sterile; seed parent is fertile.    -   3. Flowers of new variety are long lasting; seed parent's        flowers do not last as long.    -   4. New cultivar has a long flowering period; parent ceased        flowering when seed had set.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘KERBELGOLDIE’ are similar to plants of thepollen parent, proprietary seedling ‘10-462-9’, in most horticulturalcharacteristics. However, plants of the new cultivar differ in thefollowing ways:

-   -   1. New cultivar has double flowers; pollen parent is single        flowered.    -   2. New variety is sterile; seed parent is fertile.    -   3. Flowers of new variety are long lasting; pollen parent's        flowers do not last as long.    -   4. New cultivar has a long flowering period; parent ceased        flowering when seed had set under natural conditions.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new variety can be compared to plants of the Primulavulgaris cultivar ‘Kerbelbut’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,373). Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Over, Cambridge, United Kingdom,plants of the new Primula differed from plants of the cultivar‘Kerbelbut’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. New variety's mature flower is color 12A on the upper        surface, 9B and C on the lower surface; comparator's color is        6A.    -   2. New cultivar's flower diameter is 5 cm; comparator's diameter        is 4 cm.    -   3. Flowering time for new variety is about 2 weeks earlier than        that of comparator, depending on climate.

Plants of the ‘KERBELGOLDIE’ can be compared to plants of the Primulavulgaris cultivar ‘Sunshine Susie’, not patented. In side-by-sidecomparisons conducted in Over, Cambridge, United Kingdom, plants of thenew Primula differed from plants of the cultivar ‘Sunshine Susie’ in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Flower color of new cultivar is a golden yellow; comparator        is a soft yellow.    -   2. New cultivar's flower size is large; comparator's is small to        medium.    -   3. New variety has an enlarged calyx—jack in the green;        comparator has a normal calyx.    -   4. New variety has a short, stiff peduncle; comparator has a        medium-long, thin peduncle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color typicalplants of ‘KERBELGOLDIE’ grown in Over, Cambridge, United Kingdom, in aglass-covered greenhouse and under commercial production practicesduring the spring. Plants were about four to five months old when thephotographs were taken. During the production of the plants, daytemperatures ranged from 5 to 15 degrees C. and night temperaturesranged from 2 to 12 degrees C.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close up of a typical flower of ‘KERBELGOLDIE’.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and althoughcolors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectanceit is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Color Chart, 1995 except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘KERBELGOLDIE’ plants grown under commercialproduction practices during the spring in Cambridge, United Kingdom.During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 5 to15 degrees C. and night temperatures ranged from 2 to 12 degrees C. Nochemical or photoperiodic treatments were given. Measurements andnumerical values represent averages of typical flowering types.

-   Botanical classification: Primula vulgaris ‘KERBELGOLDIE’.-   Age of the plant described: Approximately 4 to 5 months in an 11 cm    pot.

PROPAGATION

-   Method: Tissue culture.-   Time to initiate roots: About four weeks at 20° C.-   Time to produce a rooted young plant: About six weeks at 20° C.-   Root description: Fibrous, colored near RHS White 155A.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Upright, compact and uniform; inverted triangle.    Vigorous growth.-   Height: Approximately 11 to 13 cm.-   Plant spread: Approximately 22 to 25 cm.-   Branching characteristics: No branches, foliage emerges basally.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Basal, simple.        -   Average length.—Approximately 12 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 4 to 5 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Oblanceolate.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Acute.        -   Margin.—Slightly crenate, irregular.        -   Texture of top surface.—Smooth, rugose.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Veins prominent.        -   Color.—Developing foliage upper side: Darker than RHS 144A.            Developing foliage under side: Near RHS 144A. Mature foliage            upper side: Near RHS 146A. Mature foliage under side: Near            RHS 146B.        -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: Near RHS            145B-C. Venation color under side: Near RHS 145C-D.-   Petiole:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 1.0 to 2.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.4 to 0.7 cm.        -   Color.—Upper Surface: Near RHS 145D, sometimes tinged 186C            towards base of developing leaves. Lower Surface: Near RHS            157A sometimes tinged 186D toward base.        -   Texture all surfaces.—Glabrous, smooth.

FLOWER

-   Bloom period: Recurrent flowering during the Spring under United    Kingdom outdoor conditions. Very free flowering.-   Inflorescence: Solitary, rounded double flowers, upright and    outwardly facing.-   Persistent or self-cleaning: Persistent.-   Fragrance: Fragrant.-   Flowers per plant: 45-62 flowers and buds.-   Flower bud:    -   -   Height.—1 to 1.3 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.9 to 1.2 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovoid.        -   Color.—RHS 6A.-   Individual flower:    -   -   Diameter.—4 to 5 cm.        -   Depth.—2.5 to 3.3 cm.        -   Petals.—53 to 72 per flower, in several concentric whorls.        -   Length (including tube).—1.5 to 2.4 cm.        -   Width.—1.3 to 2.0 cm.        -   Shape.—Obcordate.        -   Apex.—Emarginate.        -   Margin.—Mostly entire.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Glabrous, satiny,            slightly corrugated lower surface.        -   Color.—Developing petals, upper surface: RHS 6A. Developing            petals, lower surface: RHS 6B. Mature petals, upper surface:            RHS 12A. Mature petals, Lower surface: RHS 9B and 9C, colors            present individually.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5 in a single whorl; fused at            base; large and “frame” the flower. Length: 3 to 3.5 cm.            Width: 1.5 to 2.2 cm. Shape: Oblanceolate. Apex: Obtuse.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, slightly rugose.            Color, upper surface: RHS 146A. Color, lower surface: RHS            146B-C.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Peduncle length.—8.5 to 12 cm.        -   Peduncle diameter.—0.2 to 0.3 cm.        -   Orientation.—Mostly erect.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Color.—Near RHS 160C, streaked 186B to a greater or lesser            extent.        -   Texture.—Pubescent.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Development of reproductive organs has not been observed.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease resistance: Plants of the new Primula have not been noted to    be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Primula.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Primula have been observed    to have tolerated temperatures from about −5 to 28 degrees C.-   Fruit/seed production: Fruit and seed production not observed,    flowers are sterile.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Primula plantnamed ‘KERBELGOLDIE’ as herein illustrated and described.